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Clinical Sensors Develop Device To Diagnose Early Stage Sepsis

Sepsis
is a life threatening medical condition arising following severe infection.
More than 250,000 deaths occur each year from the condition, and quick
detection is key to survival. Following a widespread infection in the body, the
immune system releases various chemicals to fight the invading infectious
agents in the blood stream. One of the many molecules released from cells
during sepsis is nitric oxide (NO), and it is recognized to be connected with
the progression of the condition, making it a target for new diagnostics that
could improve health outcomes.

The
North Carolina-based startup Clinical Sensors is developing devices that can
identify and monitor patients at risk of life-threatening conditions at a very
early stage. Their novel point of care device directly measures a patient’s NO
level and related metabolites from biological fluids, only requiring a single
blood sample. The technology is specifically designed for bedside use in ICUs
and on the hospital floor by minimally trained clinical staff, providing real-time
measurement and identification of patients with sepsis within seconds.

Sepsis
is an all-too-common occurrence in the modern hospital, and one of the most
critical factors driving patient outcomes is rapid recognition. Delayed
treatment plays a significant role in many of the over 250,000 deaths that
occur each year from sepsis, and for every hour that sepsis diagnosis is
delayed, a patient’s risk of death increases by over 7 percent. Clinical Sensors
is developing an innovative point of care device that could allow early
detection of sepsis. If detected early, treatment consists of antibiotics and
fluids to prevent dehydration and kidney dysfunction, versus intense invasive
treatment if detected later. Clinical Sensor’s technology could take hours off the diagnosis
of sepsis, allowing doctors to start treatment while less invasive options are still
effective and chances of survival and full recovery is greater. The device could significantly
improve care and health outcomes for millions of people worldwide, while
reducing costs of more intensive treatment options and longer hospital stays,
highlighting the startup’s huge potential.

Clinical
Sensors has been awarded close to $4 million in NIHSBIR/STTR grants since
2014, including $1.5 million in 2017. The grants allow the startup to continue
the development and demonstration of their point of care device for NO
measurement and early detection of sepsis, along with a clinical study of
patients with severe burns. Part of the grant was also dedicated to add the
measurement of S-nitrosothiols to its sensor platform, compounds that store NO
in the body, to better assess its role in sepsis and other diseases.